4 Rhythm Exercises for Your Warm-up: Jump Rope and Weighted Club
A good rhythm means better balance, effortless speed, and a smooth sequence of movements. Paul Lambersens suggests a four-exercise routine to do at the start of your workout, using an upside-down club, a rope, a weighted club, and then your regular club.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
According to Paul Lambersens, good players all have one thing in common, regardless of their swing: a good tempo. It helps with balance, building speed without straining, and achieving a good sequence. First exercise: Hold a club upside down by the handle, with the right hand only, and swing through to the finish as you hear it whistle, with your right arm slightly bent at the top. Second: a rope, initiated from the front, which comes to rest on the shoulders during the backswing before being released; it also indicates the direction of the swing.
Third: a weighted, flexible club, moving forward-back-forward, to get a feel for a fluid motion. Fourth: the same movement with a regular club, like a “1, 2, 3” dance, followed by the shot played from the address position with the same momentum. This drill is done at the beginning of practice, and its benefits increase the more it is repeated.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Hold a club upside down, by the shaft, in your right hand.
- Swing all the way through while listening to the whistle, keeping your right arm slightly bent at the top of the swing at the finish.
- Using a rope, start from the front, let it rest on your shoulders during the backswing, and then swing it back.
- Make sure it comes out along the line of play, then follow through with a series of continuous swings until you reach the finish.
- Using a weighted, flexible club, make forward-backward-forward movements while feeling its weight.
- Pick up a regular club and repeat the continuous motion, like a “1, 2, 3” dance.
- Finally, play from that spot while maintaining the same momentum.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Stop the movement before the finish.
- Raise your right arm straight up to the top.
- Let the rope run sharply to the left.
- Watch the session without participating in it.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Club upside down, right hand, all the way through the finish
- Rope: single swings, then continuous swings
- Weighted club: front, back, front
- A standard swing in “1, 2, 3,” then a few swings from the address position
Your Questions
Why hold the club upside down?
The club feels light, and you can hear it whistle as you swing with your right hand. Paul Lambersens sees this as a way to wake up your muscles and get a good swing going.
Which rope should I use?
The one in the video is quite thick, but a thinner rope will work just as well. It should rest on your shoulders during the backswing before being thrown back.
Can the string help with a slice?
It reveals the direction of the swing: if it veers sharply to the left, it’s a slice. Try to get it to come out along the line of play.
Should you start the actual swing from the front, like in the exercise?
No. We start at the address, as usual, but we maintain exactly the same momentum as during the continuous motion.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Paul Lambersens). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.